IN BRIEF (Page 11)

Iran

Govt to reduce nuclear deal commitments

Teheran said it would announce additional steps to reduce its commitments under the 2015 international nuclear pact, which Washington withdrew from last year, Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday. "Iran's Atomic Energy Organization tomorrow will announce preparatory steps that have been taken to further decrease Teheran's commitments under the deal," Tasnim said. A day earlier, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini to discuss the nuclear deal and other "regional and international issues".

India

Higher tariffs imposed on US apples, almonds

India on Sunday imposed higher tariffs on 28 items imported from the US, in retaliation for Washington's recent withdrawal of trade privileges from New Delhi. The increased duties apply to products including almonds, apples and walnuts, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs said. The list initially included 29 goods but artemia, a kind of shrimp, has been removed from the list. India is the No 2 market for California almonds and Washington apples.

Italy

Director of Romeo and Juliet dies at 96

Italian director Franco Zeffirelli, famed for operas, films and television, has died in Rome at the age of 96. Zefffirelli's son Luciano said his father died at home at noon on Saturday. "He had suffered for a while, but he left in a peaceful way," he said. Zeffirelli delighted audiences around the world with his romantic vision and often extravagant productions, most famously captured in his cinematic rendering of Romeo and Juliet and the miniseries Jesus of Nazareth. Showing great flexibility, he produced classics for the world's most famous opera houses, from Milan's venerable La Scala to the Metropolitan in New York, and plays for London and Italian stages.

Reuters - Afp - Ap

(China Daily 06/17/2019 page11)